I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

[Steven]

Sega's missing too, but Sega doesn't seem to care about its arcade games that much at all beyond putting them into Yakuza or whatever it's called now.

[Sima Tuna]

I'm not going to buy another in the yearly franchise of mediocre jarpig-brawler hybrids full of recycled content, on the off chance that Sega throws me some arcade games.

Spoiler

I enjoyed Yakuza 3 and 4, but fatigue set in super early with that series and now I find it pretty intolerable. Kiwami was a soul-crushing experience (endless grind and poor game design everywhere) and I never bothered with the games after that.

I mean, I guess it's good that the new Yakuza games have gone full jarpig, because now I can ignore them completely instead of feeling obligated to play because it's technically a beat em up.

[Steven]

I have never played any of those games, but changing them into regular turn-based non-strategy RPGs means there is a pretty good chance that I won't unless they add Press Turn.

It is the closest Sega will get to ACA or anything else of the sort for the time being, sadly, as Sega Ages failed and stuff and of course modern Sega is stupid. Too bad, as Sega was fixing itself between 2010 and 2017 or so and becoming cool again. Then it reverted back to its horrible immediate-post-Dreamcast form again.

[Jucksalbe]

I really liked most of the Yakuza games, but there are just too many of them nowadays. As for the arcade games included, I just hope the work done there might make it more likely to release proper standalone versions. Or at least they could do a Capcom Arcade Stadium kind of release. It's not very practical to have to start up Yakuza (and keep a list of what game includes what arcade games) first, then find an arcade there, just to play a quick session anyway.

[Arino]

True. Accessability of their licenses and their prevalence on the popular arcade market makes Namco an obvious big player alongside Taito. And they are still missing several of their most anticipated titles.
With TGM1 being on ACA now, it's only a question of time before System11, System12, and System10 games can be a reality. But we'll probably see the NB-2 games before those.

Capcom is the only comparable actor that's really missing from ACA, but they got several series of emulated ports of their own, so we're all good.

Data East and Jaleco are also missing. They were there, but then they left a few years ago.

I have never played any of those games, but changing them into regular turn-based non-strategy RPGs means there is a pretty good chance that I won't unless they add Press Turn.

It is the closest Sega will get to ACA or anything else of the sort for the time being, sadly, as Sega Ages failed and stuff and of course modern Sega is stupid. Too bad, as Sega was fixing itself between 2010 and 2017 or so and becoming cool again. Then it reverted back to its horrible immediate-post-Dreamcast form again.

Maybe they are working on a secret comeback with M2 for the Switch 360 (or Switch One, or Switch 2, or whatever it will be called)! SEGA Ages at launch with all SEGA games ever up to Model 3 or even Naomi! This time with no extra input lag caused by the console, bundled with a real wired controller that has an amazing d pad and buttons!

[BrianC]

Some Data East games are missing because other companies had the rights to some titles. Hamster recently got back to Data East and published Trio the Punch. They also published Burnin' Runner (oddly missing from US PSN, but on US/JP eShop and JP PSN), BurgerTime, Karate Champ, Darwin 4078, and most of their NeoGeo titles.

[Sumez]

Data East and Jaleco are also missing. They were there, but then they left a few years ago.

I love Data East, and at least a few Jaleco games. But I really wouldn't consider them the same league as Namco and Capcom

[Arino]

Some Data East games are missing because other companies had the rights to some titles. Hamster recently got back to Data East and published Trio the Punch. They also published Burnin' Runner (oddly missing from US PSN, but on US/JP eShop and JP PSN), BurgerTime, Karate Champ, Darwin 4078, and most of their NeoGeo titles.

Trio the Punch came out 19/5/2022 so not THAT recently, no Data East game since then.

Last Jaleco game was Soldam, 16/9/2021. I know there are reasons but these reasons don't make it better. In fact, they made it a lot worse because those shitty Johnny Turbo's Arcade releases were a crime, and I am not interested in that Evercade stuff either. I just hope those games will still get a release by Hamster.

Data East and Jaleco are also missing. They were there, but then they left a few years ago.

I love Data East, and at least a few Jaleco games. But I really wouldn't consider them the same league as Namco and Capcom

Yeah, well, you know, that's just like, uh, your opinion, man.

[velo]

It's been nothing but Namco, Taito, Konami and Nichibutsu since March, and almost nothing but those four in the months before that. We've still got a few of Namco's VS. System games to go, so be prepared.

[Daytime Waitress]

I really liked most of the Yakuza games, but there are just too many of them nowadays. As for the arcade games included, I just hope the work done there might make it more likely to release proper standalone versions. Or at least they could do a Capcom Arcade Stadium kind of release.

Obviously the bean-counters have run diagnostics that demonstrate that investment in a focused, all-in-one and ever-growing anthology would outweigh the passive income generated; but I do agree that a backlog like Sega's shouting, "here's a place you can play everything we've ever released - pay us again!" seems like such a slam dunk that Takehiko Inoue has already drawn a thirty-one volume series about it.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Hamster still hasn't done a proper ACA port of Tenkomori Shooting (JPN region)/Tenkomori Variety Shooting (USA region) arcade stg title -- what's up with this obvious glaring omission from the Namco arcade game archive/collection? This particular "zany 'n' wacky" arcade stg was released in both Japan and in the USA back in the day. It's been shown at past California Extreme shows with the USA region Tenkomori Variety Shooting namesake presented all in English.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Sima Tuna]

They haven't given us Raiden II yet either. Tenkomori Shooting has 3d elements, I believe, so I'd be more doubtful of seeing that one until Hamster move on to full 3d arcade ports. If they ever do.

[Sumez]

TGM1 is technically 3D

[hamfighterx]

It's been nothing but Namco, Taito, Konami and Nichibutsu since March, and almost nothing but those four in the months before that. We've still got a few of Namco's VS. System games to go, so be prepared.

It has been about a year since they started doing games in a typical rotation of 4 games from Namco/Taito/Konami/other (not in any specific order). The "other" is a wild card: Nichibutsu, UPL, Allumer, Video System, Athena, Tecmo, etc. Of course, that excludes the Namco-only month in April. I'm not really expecting much of a change in that pattern for the rest of 2024.

[Arino]

I wonder what we will get this week!

[hamfighterx]

Sure would be fun to see another Konami game from the Mystic Warriors hardware!

Maybe we're also due for some of the not yet added games from the TMNT hardware. I'll throw out Punk Shot (combat basketball game) just because it would be hilarious to predict that one. I'd prob watch that Hamster stream, tbh.

[BIL]

I was watching Rollergames the other day on... I wanna say Janet's channel, and thinking "Yeah, this is definitely gonna pre-empt ACA Violent Storm, top craic for the thread." (edit: ah yea, here we go - great player, with tons of board captures for reference)

Turns out though, like way too many 90s boards, I think the IP might hold that one back. I guess I'm alright with that in this case. Although tbh looking at it again, I wouldn't necessarily pass it up. Looks like a time attack beater, kinda. Final Fight CD's time attack is absolute arcade compulsion, I'd have to give it a look.

[Arino]

Or maybe August will be Mahjong month and we'll get a couple of those

[velo]

It has been about a year since they started doing games in a typical rotation of 4 games from Namco/Taito/Konami/other (not in any specific order). The "other" is a wild card: Nichibutsu, UPL, Allumer, Video System, Athena, Tecmo, etc. Of course, that excludes the Namco-only month in April. I'm not really expecting much of a change in that pattern for the rest of 2024.

We're due for some "others". I thought they might be running out of Namco, but by a quick and rough count, there are at least 20 sprite based games to go. Enough to stretch over a year or two, before they have to either stop or move to 3D.

[Arino]

It has been about a year since they started doing games in a typical rotation of 4 games from Namco/Taito/Konami/other (not in any specific order). The "other" is a wild card: Nichibutsu, UPL, Allumer, Video System, Athena, Tecmo, etc. Of course, that excludes the Namco-only month in April. I'm not really expecting much of a change in that pattern for the rest of 2024.

We're due for some "others".

Nice

I predict: UFO Robo Dangar

[Jonpachi]

It has been about a year since they started doing games in a typical rotation of 4 games from Namco/Taito/Konami/other (not in any specific order). The "other" is a wild card: Nichibutsu, UPL, Allumer, Video System, Athena, Tecmo, etc. Of course, that excludes the Namco-only month in April. I'm not really expecting much of a change in that pattern for the rest of 2024.

We're due for some "others".

Nice

I predict: UFO Robo Dangar

[hamfighterx]

We're due for some "others". I thought they might be running out of Namco, but by a quick and rough count, there are at least 20 sprite based games to go. Enough to stretch over a year or two, before they have to either stop or move to 3D.

Oh there are enough Taito and Konami games to last them quite a while too.

And on the "other" topic, we aren't necessarily "due" for one if Hamster is sticking to the usual current pattern of 4 games with 1 each from Namco/Taito/Konami/Other (not necessarily in the same order). If we assume Hamster reset the 4-game rotation after the April Namco month, we're now in the fourth group since then:

May 2 to May 23:
Taito - Rastan Saga
Konami - Tutankham
Namco - F/A Fighter Attacker
Nichibutsu - Legion (which has gotta be my pleasant surprise of the year!)

May 30 to June 20:
Konami - Cue Brick
Nichibutsu - Wiping
Namco - Star Luster
Taito - Rastan Saga II

June 27 to July 18:
Konami - Jackal
Nichibutsu - Ninja Emaki
Namco - Tinkle Pit
Taito - Hat Trick Hero

July 25 to August 15:
Namco - VS. Valkyrie's Adventure
Konami? -
Taito? -
Other? -

Hamster has pretty much stuck to this pattern since Konami's return to AA in August 2023 after a lengthy absence (Devil World, 8/17/2023), with only minor exceptions:
1) There was a 4-game run in October-November 2023 with no Taito game but two "other" games: Daioh (Athena) and Blandia (Allumer). Then the following 4-game set in November 2023 had two Taito games and no "other", to even it back out. Feels more like that was just a scheduling quirk instead of an intent to really mix up the formula.
2) We got a 5-game set with a bonus "other" game, immediately preceding the April '24 Namco-only month (Allumer and UPL both showed up, alongside the usual N/T/K games).
3) And of course, the April Namco/Namco/Namco/Namco month was a special deviation from the usual. April 2023 was also almost all Namco (Namco was 4 of the 5 AA releases from March 30 to April 27)

Oh, and as for Taito: we should expect that some time in the not so distant future, we'll see the games that are not already on AA but were announced for the Taito Milestones 3 compilation. Dead Connection, Thunder Fox, and Rastan Saga III/Warrior Blade.

[jehu]

It's gonna be Hard Puncher: Ketsumamire no Eikō/The Final Round, I can just feel it.

[Arino]

...

Nice breakdown ham!

It's gonna be Rapid Hero, I can just feel it.

[hamfighterx]

Nice breakdown ham!

What else was I gonna do during a slow afternoon at work? Thanks.

I like the Rapid Hero pick, I'd love to see more NMK. I also wonder if we'll get any other premium priced licensed games again after the one-off Mazinger Z last year. I'd gladly pay double price for Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon (the Banpresto arcade beat-em-up). Damn, now I really want that.

[Sumez]

Rapid Hero is way overdue.
I was thinking yesterday, about which are the biggest titles that still feel like they are abscent from Arcade Archives, and it was the first game that came to my mind.
What are the other games people feel are missing? Excluding stuff like Data East and Irem (which are still uncounted for atm) and Capcom of course. Taito and Konami seem to be completely fair game at this point.

These are the primary ones that come to my mind. Maybe some of them already exist and I missed them

Sailor Moon
Air Gallet
Denjin Makai 1 and 2
The Outfoxies
Mach Breaker
Raiden 2/DX, maybe the Fighters series
Xain'd Sleena
The entire F3 lineup - Bubble Symphony, Bubble Memories, Elevator Action Returns, Arkanoid Returns, Darius Gaiden, Gekirindan, Landmaker, K.Tiger 2, Light Bringer, Cleopatra Fortune, Akkanvader, etc.
Moo Mesa and Bucky O Hare (potential licensing issues)
Cabal and Blood Bros. (and Toki and Heated Barrel !)
Crime City
Gaiapolis
every Parodius game
M.I.A
Monster Maulers, Violent Storm, and Metamophic Force
Asuka & Asuka

[Bassa-Bassa]

No JJ Squawkers? I'd say it has way more tickets than most, if only because emulating it seems quite trivial.

If we're including unreleased stuff like Moo Mesa, Konami's other Rolling Thunder tribute? Espionage/SPY deserves some exposure in Japan, as does Mitchell's Charlie Ninja or Sammy's Dyna Gear (which won't happen because Sega.) Metro's Gun Master was released but it's almost like if it wasn't, sadly. Gundhara is Banpresto's game I'd say we'll see next before any other, for not few reasons. Biggest and most welcome surprise though, if they manage to reach Kaneko's legal inheritor.

[Sturmvogel Prime]

Are you after the "Bloodsoaked Glory"?
Join Jabbin' Jim on his path to victory in Konami's boxing game Hard Puncher: Chimamire no Eikō / The Final Round.
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202407/12734

[Sumez]

No JJ Squawkers? I'd say it has way more tickets than most, if only because emulating it seems quite trivial.

Escaped my mind, definitely near the top of my personal wanted list. Charlie Ninja is another one I'd love to see.

[BIL]

Not typically my cup of tea, arcade boxshingu, but I do like the Time Attack angle. Lately, I'm fonder and fonder of arcade games designed for adept players to tear through in good time, rather than riding a single credit for hours on end.

EDIT: actually, the fuck am I saying? Treasure's GBA Hajime no Ippo is killer. Legit some of the most punishing combat sports you'll see. Ippo's liver shot sounds like a cruise missile hitting a warehouse full of dynamite. I actually marathonned the anime just to know what was behind those fiery characters. SENBA-SAAAN crumpling to the mat with his weapons-grade murderstare unbowed an instant highlight.

Also the Contra and Gradius nods are instant catnip. Konami's AC games from around this time nearly always have killer OSTs, too, so looking forward to that. I've never so much as seen Chequered Flag, but I'd nab it on sight just for the soundtrack. Been blasting the Priestly NIGHT LINE and GRAND STROKE for decades now. I'd love to see Le Mans too, however impossible that might be, just for HIGHWAY KILLER.

> NIGHT LINE
> GRAND STROKE

GET ON THE READY LINE GET HOT GOD DAMMIT

I DO FOR NOBODY ELSE BUT ME! YEAH
I DO FOR NOBODY ELSE
BUT ME!
I AM A HIGHWAY KILLER!